It's just taken me 10 minutes to work out how to get to this page and start writing. Yes, it's been that long since I last blogged.

Why? I initially told myself it was time. Or lack of. Don't we all say it? 'Where did the time go?' 'I don't have enough time' 'There aren't enough hours in the day' But actually, we all have the same amount of time as one another - we have the same amount of hours in the day as Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Mother Tersea, Bill Gates and JK Rowling have all had. Look at the greatness that has been achieved within the same amount of time that we are all given. 

So I thought again. And I realised that I'm not very good at sharing myself - my highs, lows and inbetweeny bits - with the big wide world and I've made every excuse under the sun not to write a regular blog. But things are happening fast here. Pretty Chic is growing rapidly and I want to share the journey. Before now, I have been worried about not succeeding in my endeavours and looking a fool. But over time I've learnt that running a business is a journey without an end. Yes, I have ambitions and there are goals, but ultimately my business will evolve over time and I will grow with it and it with me.

So, with that said, I'm putting myself out there for all to see - and I actually feel quite liberated in the knowledge that I'm now not on this journey alone anymore, that I have an outlet to share my triumphs, hurdles and downfalls with.

Until next time

Lucy

P.s Here's a handful of best sellers right now over at the website:

Mums Wine Glass - £8

Large Open Wreath - £19.95

Grey Dogs Scarf - £14.95

Corkboard Map - £24.95

Look where we've ended up!

There a quiet revolution going on - did you know? With the recession hitting us (mainly in our pockets), we've all had to review our spending. There's a huge increase in the number of shoppers in budget supermarkets - like Aldi & Lidl (I'm one of them - seriously, go try them!) but the trend of buying British is increasing too. And I'm not talking about Tesco trying to flog us 'British Milk' (errr, of course it's British, they're hardly going to ship in milk from overseas!)*  

Now this may not make sense at first...isn't UK production seriously expensive and as such products made in the UK are only for the rich and richer? No. So many of us have now stopped and thought about exactly what we are buying and how that is impacting our economy. If we buy something from a small, independent, local business we're supporting the little guy. It's that little guy who's living you're helping to make. More often than not, the product you are buying from an independent retailer has been very carefully sourced and is likely to be of far better quality than the mass produced stuff on 'uber-market' shelves. 

And now, it's taken a step further - what if, not only are we buying from independent businesses but we're buying products that are handmade here in the UK too? We've started to really look at what we get for our money and as a result, we've realised that not only do we get a fantastic product, that is lovingly made, to a very high standard, but we've got a little slice of self satisfaction knowing we're supporting this great country's creative talents.

So, Pretty Chic has hopped, skipped and jumped onto the bandwagon. I want my business to reflect my values - I love unusual home accessories and have a passion for unique & personalised items. 

And now, we've nestled in with the lovely chaps over at www.frombritainwithlove.com and are part of their ever growing directory of retailers, designers and craftspeople who sell  gorgeous handmade gifts,  delicious locally sourced food, original designer fashions and unique pieces for the home. 

Little linky thing to my page here

Another little linky thing to the website here

* I'm a personal Tesco hater, but that's another story!

New Handmade in the UK range of cards

Errr, Ok, can someone please tell me where the last 2 months of gone. Actually, while you're at it, where has the first part of this year disappeared to?


I honestly thought when I started blogging I'd be able to commit once a week. Well, as you can see from the date of my last post, that went out rather unceremoniously out the window.


However, I'm back here now (I'll probably be writing the next one around Christmas - sorry to say the C word in May!)


 Anyway, I don't want to rant on and on....I just thought I'd share our amazing new range of handmade (in the UK) cards...below is the Cupcake range, and we'll have a wedding range joining us soon.

All the cards can be found here and are all just £3.50 inc delivery

Is anyone else hungry???

www.pretty-chic.co.uk

Putting Myself Out There!

If you are local to me (Ipswich) or are a liker on my Facebook page you may have noticed that I'd been plugging my Spring Shopping Event over the past few weeks.


Well, it was Sunday just gone. And how did it go? Superbly! Now I'm not one to blow my own trumpet, but lets face it, no-one else will! 


There is always that worry when you are organising some form of event that no-one will show up! And I am the first to admit that I had a few dreams of empty rooms and panic attacks. Thankfully, for once, they great British weather was in my favour and all the plugging, advertising and leafleting I'd done paid off! 


So I thought I'd share a few pics of the set up - I had every intention of photographing the room once all the customers arrived but they came in so thick and fast there wasn't a moment to spare!


So here is the calm before the storm....

Sorry the pics aren't fantastic - just snapped with my phone! 

Would also like to take this opportunity to thank my very supportive partner, my Mum and my wonderful sister in law for all their help on the day - I couldn't have done it without you all. And of course, thanks to everyone who came down to shop!

Everything is available to buy on the website - www.pretty-chic.co.uk

L x

Being a 'Grown Up'

Ok, there was no blog last week. Why? Because I'd had a really hard week - physically, mentally and emotionally. I didn't have the strength to sit in front of a screen and relay the highs and lows of the week before me. And that got me thinking about why I'm here, doing what I am. Did I plan to be self employed with three children? No, but then I never really did have a plan.

You see, nobody ever tells you when you are little how hard life can be when you grow up. They don't explain friendships stop being simple, choices stop being easy and the joys of childhood stop altogether. They just ask what you want to be when you grow older. Whatever the minefield of life could hold in store for you, it seems the answer to this single question is all you need to be armed with.Which, of course, is all very well if you what to be something sensible like a doctor or a teacher - but if not, like me, you shrug and say 'dunno' you leave the person asking a little disappointed that you don't have a 'direction' in life.

But now, I've found what I love doing and feel a little vindicated that I held out, that I didn't stick to a carefully constructed course of jumping through hoops and goals to get to the final destination. But as with growing up, running your own business is a constant journey of learning by your mistakes and relishing in your achievements.   By making choices, albeit harder ones than as a child (jam or ham in your sandwich?) you carve your path and gradually the lessons learnt along the way will teach you in anticipation of future avenues you may find yourself in and by having the past experience you'll know how to deal with fresh challenges.

Just to lighten the mood (!) I'd thought I'd share a few new lines that have been added to the website this week - all with Mother's Day in mind...

Blackboard Heart with Wooden Frame - £14.95

Watering Can Plant Pot Holder - £6.95

Grandmas Are Just Antique Little Girls - £9.95

Half term has landed!

Half term has landed!


It's one of those weeks in the school year you love or you loath - February half term. It's not like the summer or Easter holidays where (usually) the weather is half decent and you can get the kids out and about. Oh no, this is the week of cold, miserable weather and unlike the Christmas holidays where the weather is also abysmal, there isn't the distraction of presents and festivities!

We've all seen these looks on the kids, haven't we?!

So what to do....


I have a secret to share with you that my Mum told me once the oldest was at school. It's the secret to a (reasonably) smooth half term. Here it is....


Plan something everyday


Simples, right? By having one thing each day to do, you're giving you and the kids a little bit of purpose and structure to the week. You and the kids will have something to look forward to. Now I'm not talking about going to the zoo, theatre, indoor play area etc everyday 1) because it'll cost a small fortune and 2) because the kids will end up in overload mode!


I'm talking about a playdate with friends, visiting a relative you don't get the chance to see in school time, a movie afternoon at home with popcorn and the duvet on the sofa (personal favourite!),  doing a craft kit together, going to a local cafe for lunch, popping into a supermarket or similar and buying something thing to make with the kids at home. 

http://pretty-chic.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=myoowl&cat=53

Most of these activities will take between 1-3 hours so you won't have your day eaten up - the kids will still get to do their own thing plus you'll still have the chance to get on with the boring stuff too (washing, cleaning etc - go to be done!)

Ok, I may be dreaming if I think anyone can do all this in a day!

I write down in my diary what we've got planned for each day, and it may be just me, but I find it really reassuring to know that we've got something on. I'd hate to hear the age old 'Muuuummmm, I'm bored' every day for a week and by telling the kids we're doing whatever it is that day, they seem to look forward to it and I get (a very small amount of) peace. 


Happy half term everyone!




Lucy x


P.s  The website is always open, trading as usual - I may even have some little helpers this week!

So what's your 'other' job?

It's just before Christmas, I'm in a warm house, surrounded by a few hundred products of mine that I've lovingly displayed for guests to browse and buy. I guess there's around 15 women, doing what we do best on a Friday night - sharing a bottle (or two!) of wine and having a good ol' chin wag. 

This home party is going really well - the guests are relaxed, there's music playing in the background and we're all having a really great time. The conversation flows, covering a huge range of topics, from childbirth to holidays right through to who's going to win the X-Factor. Then, a lady turns to me and says 'So what else do you do?' I respond with 'Well, we attend some local fairs and markets as well as selling online.' I get a small puzzled look from her and then the realisation kicks in - 'Oh, so you don't have another job?' I smile and say no, this is my full time job. 

This isn't the first time I've been asked what I do and been met with the same response - 'But don't you have another 'real' job?' It can either go one of two ways - I get looked at like I'm completely mad, and I think people even feel a little sorry for me (crazy lady setting up her own business in a recession) Or, I get the 'Wow, so this is YOUR business, just you?' These conversations usually go onto talks about the recession, how independent businesses survive and why I wanted to set up a new business when I did. *

I always get a little bit excited when the conversation turns to this - I love sharing the fact that I am independent - I don't have to sell certain products, at certain prices in a certain way. I have the flexibility to pick and choose what I sell and how I sell, and in doing so, I'm able to offer my customers a range of goods they want and prices they can afford. 

Would I ever want a 'real' job? No way! I'm working hard at growing my business organically and although I'm still learning, I'm so pleased to be in the driving seat of my own business. 

* (I'm going to talk about these 3 topics in the next few blogs)